Class of 2015 Outstanding Grads Share Their Stories

Rady Graduate and now Harvard professor promotes environmental justice through marketing

Elizabeth Keenen

Elizabeth Keenan, of Escondido, Calif., just graduated from the Rady School of Management with a Ph.D. in management with a specialization in behavioral marketing and is one of the first students to receive a doctoral degree from Rady. “It was great to have a chance to come back to the area where I grew up to go to grad school,” she said. Keenan’s passion lies in the natural world around us, and the ocean in particular. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Keenan worked at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif. for 10 years. After gaining the experience of serving as the aquarium’s public programs manager and assistant director of the education department, Keenan found herself drawn to marketing. “At the aquarium, we had a mission to instill a sense of wonder, respect and stewardship for the ocean with the hope that people we reached would change their behavior and do what they could to protect the environment – we were basically marketing the environment,” Keenan said. This summer, Keenan will begin her new position as an assistant professor at Harvard Business School. She will be teaching marketing to first-year MBA students in the fall and will also continue her research, which focuses on understanding socially conscious behavior within the contexts of pro-environmental choice, climate change judgments and charitable giving.

Aspiring educator Indira Esparza will be three-time UC San Diego graduate

Indira Esparza

Indira Esparza graduated from UC San Diego’s Thurgood Marshall College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science as well as a minor in education studies. Esparza plans to be a three-time UC San Diego graduate—she graduated from Preuss High School UCSD as a senior in 2011, has graduated as an undergraduate from UC San Diego this year and, in 2016, will continue as a UC San Diego graduate student. Esparza will pursue a master’s and eventual Ph.D. in education to study the effects of education on undocumented students, an issue she feels strongly about as it relates to her own story. Esparza was born in Mexico and moved to San Diego with her family when she was 2 years old. She aims to teach at the high school level, and eventually become a professor. “I hope to inspire students from all backgrounds to reach for higher education,” Esparza said. Though her experience as an undocumented student has faced her with many challenges, Esparza hopes to use her own narrative to empower other undocumented students. “Being an undocumented student on campus has definitely motivated me to work as hard so I can to ensure I am opening doors for the next generation of undocumented students,” she said. Esparza currently works for UC San Diego’s Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment and Teaching Excellence (CREATE) as a research assistant and as a Muir College Provost Intern for the College Academic Mentorship Program (CAMP). She also mentors incoming Chancellor’s Associates Scholars—Esparza was among the first scholarship cohort in 2013—a program created to help make a UC San Diego education a reality for the region’s historically underserved communities. The program provides a $10,000-per-year scholarship to recipients, such as Esparza. When coupled with other forms of financial aid, the scholarship essentially covers all costs associated with a UC San Diego education including housing and books. As part of Esparza’s Chancellor’s Associates Scholars mentorship, she is paired with freshmen who have similar majors and she helps them with the transition to college life and the rigorous academic expectations of a university. For more information on Indira Esparza, click here.

Lifelong learner Monica Doyle goes from UC San Diego staff member to graduate

Monica Doyle

At age 50, Monica Doyle, marketing director for UC San Diego Extension, decided to go back to school to earn her bachelor’s degree. Seven years later, she has graduated from John Muir College with a degree in psychology. Doyle, who is originally from Vancouver, B.C., decided to stop pursuing a commercial art degree at the age of 21 in order to start a printing company. Doyle’s business expanded into the U.S. which brought her to San Diego, where she eventually worked in the field of advertising. In 2001, she obtained her position in marketing at Extension, and it was then that Doyle began to consider going back to school. “Not having a degree was something I was embarrassed about,” she said. “I avoided situations where I had to reveal my educational background given that I was promoting education for my job. Even though I had run a successful international business and was also a licensed commercial pilot and aircraft owner, I still felt I lacked the right academic credential.” Doyle was able to pursue a degree while working full time and by attending school as a part-time student. Though obtaining a degree took a lot of dedication, Doyle says it was well worth it. “I quickly got over the silly notion that I was inadequate without a degree and embraced the learning process,” Doyle said. “I feel very connected with the campus on a personal level now. It didn’t matter that I had 35 years on my classmates – we all shared a passion for learning and helping each other achieve good grades. And my classmates were so smart and motivated – it’s amazing to be surrounded by such tremendous energy because it really fuels all parts of your life. I feel I can better articulate the value of this process now to Extension students, who are all lifelong learners too.” Completing her psychology degree at UC San Diego is certainly a milestone, but Doyle may take her studies further. “As a non-traditional lifelong learner, I am hooked,” said Doyle, who is also a yoga instructor. “There is a master’s degree in yoga studies at Loyola Marymount that looks really interesting to me.”

Avril Prakash’s passion for democracy leads her to pursue politics

Avril Prakash

Avril Prakash has graduated from UC San Diego’s Eleanor Roosevelt College this spring with a major in political science and minor in marketing. She even served as the keynote speaker for the Roosevelt commencement ceremony. As the first woman executive director of the UC San Diego’s Student Organized Voter Access Committee, Prakash worked with campus and community leaders to increase student voter registration and turnout for the Special Mayoral Election and Gubernatorial Election in 2014. In addition, Prakash was a semifinalist for student regent and student advocate to the Regents in 2014. In March of 2015, Prakash was selected by Speaker of the California State Assembly Toni Atkins as an ‘emerging female leader’ at the San Diego Women of the Year Luncheon. Prakash’s interest in politics stems from her experience moving to the U.S. from Singapore 10 years ago. “When I immigrated to the U.S., I was simply fascinated by the political system here,” Prakash said. “Growing up in India and Singapore gave me a chance to see different types of democracy, but it was here in the U.S. that I felt citizens could truly participate and achieve tangible results towards achieving a society that they wanted.” Professionally, Prakash currently works as a staff assistant for Congressman Scott Peters’ district office, where she handles federal funding opportunities and outreach. She also works as a staff assistant in the Office of Government Relations at UC San Diego, assisting with state and local affairs. Upon graduation, Prakash will work full time in the UC San Diego Office of Government Relations.

From Homeschool to UC San Diego, and now Stanford: Peter Dykstra continues passion for Research

From La Mesa, Calif., Peter Dykstra is an Earl Warren College student who just earned his Bachelor of Science in bioengineering. Dykstra was not raised with the traditional structure of the United States school system; from K-12, he received a home-based education along with his two brothers, and their father who was their primary educator. Though the transition from homeschool to a top research university was initially difficult, Dykstra eventually adapted once he started research in his lab. Dykstra’s passion for scientific research landed him a position as an undergraduate researcher at the UC San Diego Muscle Physiology Laboratory. When he was not working in the lab, Dykstra served as a student representative on the Provost’s student advisory council for Warren College, a student representative for the student travel fund committee at the Jacobs School of Engineering and a discussion leader for one of Warren College’s first-year experience courses. This fall, Dykstra will be attending Stanford University to pursue a Ph.D. in bioengineering. “I’m very proud of the research that I’ve gotten to do as a UC San Diego undergrad and hope to continue with the same themes as I begin my Ph.D. studies at Stanford,” Dykstra said.

Award-winning Earl Warren grad advocates for Native American representation in science

This June, Sara Kimmich graduated from Earl Warren College with both a Bachelor of Science in cognitive science and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and minors in psychology and writing. Kimmich has dedicated much of her time at UC San Diego to improving the visibility of Native American culture and identity on campus. From a Cherokee family herself, Kimmich has channeled her enthusiasm for Native American rights into leadership roles on campus by serving as director of Tribal Affairs, an undergraduate representative for the California Native American Day committee and an organizer for the annual UC San Diego Native American Research Symposium. As the president for UC San Diego’s Native American Student Alliance (NASA), Kimmich worked directly with the California American Indian Research Center for Health and mentored Native American students who are passionate about STEM fields. Her involvement has earned her both the Leadership Award and the Special Merit Award in Biological Sciences from the California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science. “I hope to bring the indigenous voice into the dialogue of neuroscience and neuroethics,” Kimmich said. After graduating, she plans on traveling to Paris to present her research findings at a conference for the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness. Thereafter, she will head back to San Diego to continue her research on gender in the brain while applying to graduate programs which will focus on neuroscience and ethics.

First in family to attend college, outstanding grad dedicated to helping underserved

Alandra Avila

Alandra Avila is a first-generation college student from Bakersfield, Calif. Despite having to face financial burdens, Avila has pursued her dreams and, this June, graduated from Earl Warren College with a Bachelor of Science in public health. Throughout college, Avila worked 30 hours a week to support her educational endeavors. “This obstacle has really tested my strength, but looking back on my time spent here, I would not change a thing,” Avila said. Avila’s Triton spirit shines with her heavy involvement with Warren College. She has served as an orientation leader, student orientation coordinator, academic advising peer counselor, mentor for the college’s peer mentorship program and served as a member of the Warren events board for the college’s student council. After graduating, she hopes to join the Peace Corps and work in public health services while utilizing her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification in health care. Avila’s long-term goals include pursuing double master’s degrees through joint or separate Public Health and Physician’s Assistant programs. Ultimately, she plans to dedicate her time and career to serving underserved communities in the form of clinical work.

Multitalented political science and history major aims to become professor

Nhat-Dang Do, who emigrated from Vietnam with his family when he was 5 years old, has graduated from Earl Warren College with a Bachelor of Arts in both public policy and Near East history. He also earned a minor in law and society. Do has won many awards and served in many leadership positions during his undergraduate career. His first year, he was the freshman representative to Warren College’s student council, and went on to serve briefly as a Warren College senator to the Associated Students during his second year. Additionally, Do served on the provost-student advisory council for Warren College and held a position as the acts2fellowship Christian organization secretary. Do is most proud of his title as the chief editor of the Equilibrium Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Journal, the only college-based multidiscipline undergraduate research journal on campus. Post-graduation, Do plans to continue his studies at UC San Diego as a Ph.D. candidate, with the overall goal of becoming a professor. “I hope to teach and research, as well as inspire students,” Do said. “I have been so blessed to have great mentors who supported me, and I hope to do the same for others in the future.”

Revelle graduate translates his love for the outdoors into academia

Soren Nelson

A Revelle College student and political science major, Soren Nelson is a lover of the outdoors. Raised in a ranching county, Nelson spent his childhood and high school days hunting and skiing in the mountains of California, where he developed a passion for wilderness and the environment. “I’m passionate about the outdoors and working to keep the environment clean and accessible for generations to come,” Nelson said. Nelson arrived at UC San Diego with a strong goal: to leave the university in better shape than he had found it, just as his parents had taught him to leave a campsite. Channeling his love for the upkeep of the outdoors into the UC San Diego campus, Nelson became involved in Revelle College Council, as both the first elected speaker of the Revelle College assembly and the Revelle senator for Associated Students. As senator, Nelson helped craft a campaign that ultimately resulted in the passage of a $3 million student fee referendum that has kept the shuttle system intact. Nelson also served as Revelle College Council’s president, where he focused on promoting Revelle’s 50th anniversary. After graduating, Nelson plans on pursuing a career in environmental policy with the California state government in Northern California. “I want to apply all that I’ve learned at UC San Diego to implement policy that encourages sustainable development that protects the wilderness I know and love,” Nelson said.

A Star in high school and college—Muir student driven by desire to empower underrepresented communities

Thomas Thao

John Muir College student Thomas Ryu Thao graduated this June with a Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies and was speaker at the Muir commencement ceremony. Back in high school, Thao was profiled in Sacramento Magazine as one of the area’s “Top 10 Graduating Seniors.” He was also his high school’s graduation speaker. Passionate about social justice and educational equity, Thao plans to join Teach for America-Milwaukee after graduating to help close the achievement gap for students in low-income communities. His enthusiasm for empowering underrepresented communities translated to his work at UC San Diego; Thao has served as the associate vice president for equity, diversity and inclusion for UC San Diego’s Associated Students and as an intern at one of the campus community centers as well as a resource advisor at the Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Service (SPACES). Additionally, he has served as the president of the Hmong Students Association of San Diego. “My family’s experiences as Hmong refugees, who migrated to America after the Vietnam War, has shaped me to be who I am today,” Thao said. As president of the Hmong Students Association of San Diego, Thao chaired the first annual Hmong Youth Conference that brought Hmong students to San Diego to encourage them to apply and enroll in college after graduating high school.

UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering graduate an advocate for better medicine

Soracha Thamphiwatana will be graduating from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering with a Ph.D. in Nanoengineering. During her post doctorate career, Thamphiwatana became very intrigued by the potential of using nanotechnology to develop better medicine. Her research primarily focuses on the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria infection and toxin detoxification by using engineered nanoparticles. “My goal is to see my work translated into an impactful application that can help patients who suffer from an ‘incurable’ disease be cured by traditional medicine,” Thamphiwatana said. Her work on nanomaterials and nanomedicine research has led to 14 peer-reviewed publications and a patent application. After graduating, Thamphiwatana aims to continue developing and contributing new science and its application in the field of nanoengineering. Later this year, she will be going back to her homeland of Thailand, to begin her position as a tenure-track faculty member at the School of Medicine at the Prince of Songkla University, the first university in Southern Thailand that is consistently ranked among the top universities Thailand.

Joshua Twisselman: graduating with commitment to help the developing world

Joshua Twisselman graduated from the School of Global Policy and Strategy and has dedicated his studies to helping the developing world. At GPS, formerly the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (or IR/PS), Twisselman studied international economics, with a Latin America regional focus. Prior to studying at GPS, Twisselman graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA and double majored in political science and history. His passion for international affairs and service was solidified when he served in the Peace Corp from 2010-2012. “I was inspired to join the Peace Corps based on the organization's bottom-up approach to international development, which above all, emphasizes a commitment to cultural respect,” Twisselman said. He spent his time in in Madagascar, where he focused on community development work. And, along the way, he became fluent in Malagasy. Having a talent for learning language, Twisselman took four quarters of Spanish at GPS, and earned an A+ in each class. Also while in graduate school, Twisselman did his summer internship with the Baja Project, where he traveled down to the rural community of El Barril and worked to empower its residents as well as improve its education, health, infrastructure, and quality of life. In addition, he was deeply involved on campus and served as vice president of internal affairs for the Pacific and International Affairs Student Organization ( PIASO). He was also in charge of writing the eNewsletter called “Yo! IR/PS.” With his training at GPS, Twisselman is on the path to be a strong, informed voice to shape economic policies and programs through social impact investing and economic consulting.